Michael Altenburg, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetMichael Altenburg
German composer
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Alach, Germany
About Michael Altenburg
- Michael Altenburg (27 May 1584 – 12 February 1640) was a German theologian and composer. Altenburg was born at Alach, near Erfurt.
- He began attending school in Erfurt in 1590; he began studying theology at the University of Erfurt in 1598, and was awarded a bachelor's degree in 1599 and a master's in 1603.
- From 1600 he taught at the Reglerschule in Erfurt; he was Kantor at St.
- Andreas from 1601 and rector of the school at St.
- Andreas in Erfurt from 1607.
- In 1609 he quit teaching to become a pastor, moving to Tröchtelborn and preaching there until 1621.
- During this period Altenburg published music, and was compared to Orlando di Lasso. After 1621 he moved to Sömmerda, working at the Bonifaciuskirche.
- While he continued to publish and was respected for his compositions, the Thirty Years War sapped his efforts.
- In 1636 a massive plague wiped out most of his congregation, and his wife and ten of his children died before himself.
- He returned to Erfurt in 1637, where he remained as deacon and, from 1638, minister at St Andreas.Much of Altenburg's compositional output consists of vocal concertos, motets and chorales.
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